Agenda and minutes

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and public will be excluded).

(*In accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2, written notice of an appeal must be received by the Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting.)

There were no appeals against the refusal of the inspection of Documents.

1 To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as   containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the   public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public   interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the   report.

2  To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in   respect of the above information.

3  If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:

 No exempt items or information have been identified on the agenda

There were no items identified where it was considered necessary to exclude the press or public from the meeting due to the confidential nature of the business to be considered.

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration.

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes.)

Members agreed to the submission of a late item of business in respect of correspondence received from a Harewood resident who was expressing concern about the Environmental Harm from Motorways (Minute No. 24 referred). Members were also informed that an additional Wellbeing Application had been received in respect of Agenda Item No. 12 (Outer North East Community Committee – Finance Report). Members agreed to the inclusion of this Supplementary Information (Minute No. 26 referred)

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2000 and paragraphs 13-18 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.  Also to declare any other significant interests which the Member wishes to declare in the public interest, in accordance with paragraphs 19-20 of the Members’ Code of Conduct

There were no declarations of any disclosable pecuniary interests.

In order to facilitate the Open Forum item whilst Community Committee meetings are being held remotely, the process has been adapted slightly,

so that members of the public are invited to make written submissions in advance of the meeting on any matter which falls within the Committee’s

terms of reference. These will be read out under this agenda item and considered by the Community Committee.

The Governance Services Officer reported that no submissions had been received with respect to “Open Forum”

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 7^th December 2021.

(Copy attached)

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 7^th December 2020 were confirmed as a true and correct record.

To consider any matters arising from the minutes (If any)

There were no issues raised under matters arising.

To consider a report by the Conservation Officer, Communities & Environment which seeks to provide an update on new funding available for pond creation and restoration, for the purpose of the conservation of great crested newts through Natural England District Level Licensing (DLL) scheme.

(Report attached)

The Conservation Officer, Communities & Environment submitted a report which sought to provide an update on new funding available for pond creation and restoration, for the purpose of the conservation of great crested newts through Natural England District Level Licensing (DLL) scheme.

Members were informed that great crested newts (GCN) had seen dramatic declines in their populations over the last 60 years despite being legally protected. The new ‘District Level Licensing’ scheme (DLL) better protects this species by using conservation payments from developers to create new ponds in locations that would benefit the species.

It was reported that the scheme would create a network of ponds providing habitat for GCN, helping to join up sometimes isolated populations and helping them to thrive.

Members noted that Natural England, in partnership with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, would invest developer payments not only into creating or restoring new ponds but also maintaining and monitoring the ponds, for the long term (25 years).

Members were informed that Natural England had randomly sampled ponds throughout the Leeds district in 2018, using a technique called eDNA analysis which could detect the presence of GCN through water samples. This data, combined with existing biological records had enabled them to map Strategic Opportunity Areas for GCN conservation. These were the areas targeted for this funding subject to meeting the necessary criteria to be eligible.

Members sought clarity on how to identify potential pond sites

The Conservation Officer said, if you considered a particular area of land may be suitable for pond creation or restoration within the specified mapped areas (Details circulated separately) Yorkshire Wildlife Trust should be contacted in the first instance, who would assess suitability of the site info@ywt.org.uk.  Natural England would give preference to sites that could support at least 2 ponds or more.

The criteria to consider before applying was as follows:

o  Any site must sit within one of the Strategic Opportunity Areas (SOAs).

o  The minimum and optimum size of each pond is 100m². The minimum depth at the centre of the pond is 1m.

o  It must be within 500m of another existing pond.

o  Ground conditions need to be such that the pond will hold water a minimum of one summer in every three (please note that ponds requiring liners are not normally funded).

o  The location should be within 50m of suitable terrestrial habitat (taller grasses, scrub, woodland or hedgerows).

o  If in a grazed landscape or where disturbance could occur any ponds would need to be fenced (this can be included in the funding) by a minimum 3m buffer zone.

o  The pond must be in an area not likely to be polluted by runoff.

o  Chosen locality should not be liable to flood or be at risk of suffering ingress by fish or excessive use by wildfowl.

o  Any area chosen must not be contaminated by invasive non-native species (e.g. Himalayan Balsam or Crassula helmsii).

o  Restorations ONLY – all ponds put forward must be in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

To consider a report by the Director of City Development which draws to Members’ attention the details of the consultation on the draft Connecting Leeds Transport Strategy.

(Report attached)

The Director of City Development, submitted a report which brought to the attention of Members’ details of the consultation on the draft Connecting Leeds Transport Strategy.

Addressing the report Finn Campbell, Team Leader (Forward Planning) and Paul Foster, Transport Planning Manager spoke in detail about the following:

• The Transport Strategy has the vision that Leeds is to be a city where you don’t need a car;
• The objectives of the strategy are to: tackle climate change; deliver inclusive growth; and improve health;
• The 6 big moves identified to focus on the Transport Strategy are:

Members noted the draft strategy sets out the proposed approach to transport policy for the whole city. Whilst the strategy was not spatially defined, policies and measures detailed in the document and subsequent action plans would cover the Outer North East Area.

Consultation on the Transport Strategy will be open until 11^th April 2021. A copy of the Transport Strategy was appended to the submitted report and could also be found on the Leeds City Council web pages.

In the discussion that followed Members expressed the view that for residents living in urban areas (inside the ring road) the strategy may be acceptable, but for the outer areas, in particular the Outer North East Area, this strategy was not acceptable, this area had simply been ignored. The vision for the city was for a Mass Transit System, but the ONE area was being told to “make do with buses”

Members suggested that geographically, the outer north east area was one of the largest parts of the City. Bus travel was particularly difficult in the area, buses did not go to where they were required, travelling by bus from mid-day to 3.00pm was especially difficult, residents living in the area could not get to the major transports hubs and accessibility was a major issue. “We need to meet the needs of the people, not the geography”

In responding the Transport Planning Manager said the vision was a huge challenge, a viable transport system was required for the whole of Leeds, but it was accepted there would be differences in some of the outer areas. Members were informed that extending any mass transit system into the Outer North East area would be difficult, car usage in the area was high and providing a robust business case for funding such schemes was challenging, the most viable option for the ONE area was bus provision. The No.36 bus service (Leeds to Harrogate) was highlighted as a good example of buses operating in the outer areas.

In responding Members acknowledged the No.36 was a good service but this was only one route.

Members were informed that officers were working closely with bus providers to deliver mass transit, timescales and partners may be different but all were working to the same vision.

Commenting on the feedback received in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

Members considered correspondence received from a Harewood resident who was expressing concern about the Environmental Harm from Motorways.

In the discussion that followed Members were of the view that further information was required and that an officer from the appropriate City Council directorate be requested to investigate the matter further and prepare a report for the next meeting of the Community Committee.

RESOLVED - That matter be referred to the Director of City Development with a request that a report be prepared and brought back to the next meeting of this Committee in June 2021.

To consider a report by the City Solicitor which seeks Members agreement to this Community Committee’s proposed meeting schedule for the 2021/2022 Municipal year.

(Report attached)

The City Solicitor submitted a report which sought the Community Committee’s formal approval of a meeting schedule for the 2021/2022 Municipal year and to determine if there are any revisions to the current meeting and venue arrangements.

RESOLVED –

(i)  That the contents of the report be noted.

(ii)  That the proposed scheduled of meetings for 2021/22 be determined as follows:

·  Monday 7^th June 2021 – 5.30pm

·  Monday 13^th September 2021 – 5.30pm

·  Monday 6^th December 2021 – 5.30pm

·  Monday 7^th March 2022 – 5.30pm

(iii)  That the meeting scheduled for 7^th June 2021 be held in the Civic Hall, Leeds, the remaining meetings to be held at various venues within the three wards

To consider a report by the Head of Stronger Communities which provides an update on the budget position for the Wellbeing Fund, Youth Activity Fund, Capital Budget, as well as the Community Infrastructure Levy Budget for 2020/21. The report also sets out details of organisations funded by the Community Committee and how their project delivery will be affected by the Coronavirus pandemic.

The report also provides an update on projects that have been funded through the £10,000 set aside by the committee from their available Wellbeing Budget 2020/21 (across all wards) to tackle the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic.

(Report attached)

The Head of Stronger Communities submitted a report which provided an update on the budget position for the Wellbeing Fund, Youth Activity Fund, Capital Budget, as well as the Community Infrastructure Levy Budget for 2020/21. The report also provided an update on organisations funded by the Community Committee and how their project delivery would be affected by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Members were provided with an update on projects that had been funded through the £10,000 set aside by this Committee from their available Wellbeing Budget 2020/21 (across all wards) to tackle the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Members were also informed of the work that had been taking place through their local Volunteer Hubs, together with an update on the work of the wider Communities Team and what they had been doing to support some of the newer communities and communities of interest in the area.

The Localities Officer, presented the report and responded to Members comments and queries.

Detailed discussion ensued on the contents of the report together with the appendices which included:

·  Available funding for the current financial year.

·  Clarification around some of the projects seeking financial assistance.

RESOLVED –

(i)  To note the details Wellbeing Budget Position (Table No.1 referred)

(ii)  That the following Wellbeing Projects be determined as follows:

(iii)  To note that since the last Consultative Forum on 7^th December 2020, the following project had been considered and approved by DDN:

a) Arts Camp February Holiday Scheme

(iv)  To note that no projects had been declined since the last meeting

(v)  To note details of COVID 19 position (Table 2)

(vi)  To note the details of the new Central Government Ward Based Covid Fund (Table 3)

(vii)  To note the details of the Youth Activities Fund (YAF) position (Table 4)

(viii)  That the following Youth Activity Projects be determined as follows:

(ix)  To note the activity within the Community Skips Budget (Table No.5 referred)

(x)  To note the details of the Capital Budget (Table No.6 referred)

(xi)  To note the details of the Community Infrastructure Levy Budget (Paragraph 37 referred)

To consider a report by the Head of Stronger Communities which provides and update on the work of the Communities Team and the work it is engaged in, based on priorities identified by the Community Committee. It also provides opportunities for further questioning, or to request a more detailed report on a particular issue.

(Report attached)

The Head of Stronger Communities submitted a report which provided an update of the work which the Communities Team was engaged in, based on priorities identified by this Committee. The report also provided an opportunity for further questioning, or to request a more detailed report on a particular issue.

The report is also able to provide regular updates on some of the key activities between Community Committee meetings and functions delegated to Community Committees, Community Champions roles, community engagement, partnership and locality working.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted

To note that the next meeting will take place on Monday, 7^th June 2021 at 5.30pm (Remote Meeting – Zoom)

RESOLVED – To note that the next meeting will take place on Monday, 7^th June March 2021 commencing at 5.30pm

Members referred to a 'far-right' information session delivered at the Outer North East Town & Parish Council Forum.

Members noted that a YouGov poll conducted between the dates of 17-18 February 2021, found 69 per cent of respondents considered left-wing extremism to be a threat to the UK. Whilst 74 per cent worried about right-wing extremism. The poll indicated that the public expect to see both right-wing and left-wing extremism investigated equally.

It was the wish of the Members that the Chair write on behalf of the Community Committee to the Executive Board Member responsible for Communities to request that equal weight be given to all forms of extremism and that an information session be made available in the same way as you encouraged communities to access the far-right session.

RESOLVED – That the Chair write on behalf of the Community Committee to the Executive Board Member responsible for Communities to request that equal weight be given to all forms of extremism and that an information session be made available in the same way as you encouraged communities to access the far-right session.

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